Current-controlling mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



L. T. RHOADES. CURRENT GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL C0 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1.6, 1911. 1,028,277.

MBUSTION ENGINES.

Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

11 Lum/Lto@l jawn? '5, 33M NQ L. T. RHOADES. GUEEENT ooNTEoLLING MEGHANISM EoE INTERNAL coMEUsTloN ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1911. 1,028,277, Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'LEWIS T. nrroAnEs, or MONT CLARE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT-CONTROLLING lidIIECEIANISlVI` FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specication of 4Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Serial No. 649,631.

Application mea september 1e, 1911.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS T. RHoADEs,

a citizen of the United States, yresiding at Mont Clare, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Controlling Mechanism for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to improvements in current controlling mechanism for internal combustion engines, the object of the inventionbeing to provide improved mechanism which insures a uniform spark, regardless of the speed of the engine, and which prevents sparking when the engine time shaft is turned ina reverse direct-ion.

A further object is to provide impro-ved means continuously revolved by the time shaft and imparting to a contact operating member an oscillatory movement in two directions, and provide a spring for returning said contact closing member to normal position, and causing it on such return movement to close the contacts.

With these and other ob'ects in view, the inventionconsists in certain novel features .of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. I

villustrating in addition the casing in section and the cont-act operating head in elevation. Fig. 3, isl aV View similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in different positions. Fig. 4, is a .view similar to Fig.- 2 omitting the casing, and showing the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a view in longitudinal section on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4. Fig. 6, is a. view in horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are perspective views of various details of construction.

While of course a mechanism of this character may be variously positioned, and there is no such thing as vertical and horizontal with relation to the parts, for convenience.

of description 'I believe it advisable to so refer to the parts because of the different movements imparted to vthe contact closing member, and the description hereinafter will consider the"parts as positioned in Figs. 2,

4, and 5, with relation to vertical and horizontal, but of course these parts may be just reversed Aor placed in any position which is most convenient to the engine or mechanism with which it is used.

1, represents asupportng plate we will assume to be horizontal, and which is provided on its under face with an integral bearing sleeve 2 through which a journal 3 projects, which we understand to be vertical. The lower end of this journal 3 is enlarged as shown at 4 to bear against the end of sleeve 2, and said journal is provided With a recess 5 for the reception of the time shaft- (not shown), which is to be secured in the recess by means of set screws 6. The journal 3 is provided with an annular lubricant receiving groove 7, and a check valve 8 is provided in the side of the sleeve 2, through which lubricant may be supplied t-o the journal. The upper end of journal 3 above plate 1is of greatly reduced diameter as shown at 9, and is screw-threadedat as shown at 11 against which a ring 12 of fiber is positioned, and between this ring 12 and the nut 10, my improved rotary member 13 is located. The rotary member 13 is preferablymade in two parts 14 and 15, both of which constitute rings adapted to receive the restricted upper end 9 of the journal 3, and the lowersring 15 being of greater diameter than the upper ring 14. These rings 14.and 15 lare made` with registering openings 16 for the reception of a pin 17, said pin 17 also projecting into a recess 18 in the journal 3, and hence not only holds the two rings 14 and 15 to compel them't'o turn together, but also securely keys them to the journal.

The nut 10 above referred to is provided with two Spanner wrench receiving openings 19, and normally in one of these openings a pin 20 is positioned. The pin projects througl an opening 19,'and at its lower end extends into a recess 21 in upper ring-.14, and the upper end of said pin projects above the nut and into a recess 22 in a head 23. The head 23 is of insulating material and carries thereon a spring contact piece 24, and the latte'r serves to connecta centralcontact 25 in a hood 26 with a circular series of contacts 27 also in said hood, and adapted to be connected with the several cylinders of the engine. The hood 26 is grooved at its lower edge to receive the plate 1, and is provided with screw-threaded studs 28 on which nuts 29 are located to hold the hood in position on the plate.

A supporting tongue 30 is secured to the plate 1 by screws 31, and is adapted for attaching the mechanism to its support (not shown). A vertically positioned binding post 32 extends through plate 1, is insulated therefrom as shown at 33, and isv provided with a stationary contact 34 adapted to be engaged by a contact 35 on a movable contact member 36. The member 36 constitutes a bar 37 having a hooked end 38 against which a spring 39 normally bears. This spring 39 carries the contact 35 and said spring and said arm are both secured by means of a screw 40 to a block 41. The block 41 has rotary mounting on a vertical pin 42 xed to plate 1, 'and a coiled spring 43 connects the end of the screw 40 with an eye 44 on plate 1. The spring 43 is so positioned that it tends to turn the block 41 and hold theicontacts apart, the movement in this direction being limited by a pinv 45 against which the bar 37 engages. Therefore, as above set forth, forconvenience of description, we will assume that the movable contact has a horizontal oscillatory movement. I

Between the rotary member v13 and the movable contact member 36, is my improved contact moving member which is operated by the rotary member to intermittently move the contacts together. The contact moving member is shown in perspective in Figs. 8, and 9, and it constitutesv a lever 46 having a 'journal pin'47 at one end mounted to turn in a block 48, and securely held in said block by means of a Cotter pin 49. Block 48 has rotary mounting on a vertical pin 50 secured to plate 1, and hence the said lever 46, or contact moving member as I shall hereinafter refer to it, is permitted an oscillatory movement in two directions. One direction I shall consider for convenience of description as up and down and the other as in and out, and these terms are used with relation to the journal 3 and the rotary member thereon, assuming that said journal is disposed vertically.

A laterally projecting arm 51 is provided on the member 46, and is connected by a coiled spring 52 with an eye 53 secured to plate 1. This spring is positioned at such an angle that `it exerts an inward as well as va downward pressure on the member, tending to hold the same in the position shown in Fig. 1, the movement of said lever or member 46. by.v` the spring being limited in one direction by a pin 63, while-the downward movementpf said members is limited 5 by the ring 12.-

The member 46 is provided in its lower face between its ends, with a cut-out poradjacent the ,free end of the member, is beveled forming a cam face 55. The free end of the member 46 is preferably' bent backward upon itself as shown at 56, and this bent end is located at an angle forming a cam surface 57 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The bent end is narrower than the main portion of the. member, and an inclined cam face 58 is formed adjacent the forward end of said member. The bar 37 above referred to constitutes a part lof the movable contact member, and as shown in perspective in Fig. 7 is provided with a cut-out portion 59 and a laterally projecting tongue 60 constituting a cam face. These several cam faces each have their particular function, and control the motion imparted by the rotary member 13 to the contact moving member 46.

Both of the sections 14 and 15 of the rotary member 13 are provided with circular series of cams 61 and 62 respectively, and

the cams of one section are fixed with operative relation to the other, as seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. Cams 62 on the lower section 15 are of general triangular shape, in the proper or normal direction, these cams engage the cam face 58 of member 46, and elevate the free end of said member 46. When, however, the'time shaft is turned in the reverse direction, the straight walls of said cams 62 will engage the cam face 55 vand force member 46 outwardly without elevating the same, this motion beingpermitted by the cut-out portion 59 of the bar 37. The cams 61 on the upper section 14 are adapted, when 'member 46 is elevated by the cam 62, to engage the cam face 57 Iof the member 46 and force the member 46 outwardly, while said member 46 is held in an elevated position by means of the cam 62 below. As soon, however, as the cam62 rides from under the member 46, spring 52 will draw the member 46 downwardly and inwardly. VThis last movement compels the end 56 of the member 46 to strike the cam tongue 60 and force the movable contact laterally to momentarily` close the contacts. This movement of member 46 is always the same, regardless of the speed of the engine. In other words, the contacts are maintained closed for the same length of time when the engine is running fast `as when running slow, because the speed of the time shaft does not control this movement of membe 46. i. l Spring' 52 causes the member 46 to move downwardly and inwardly as soon as lreleased, and at the same speed when the rotary memberis turning fast or slow, hence the contacts are always closed the same length of'time. They are closed only durand when the time shaft is turninging the brief space of time the member 46 presses against the tongues60 in the downward and inward movement of s aid member,

hence there is no waste of electric current .and the desired spark is had'.-v

' The contact member 46 is held outward during its downward stroke in accordance with the length or vertical 'dimension of: lthe cams `61, and this dimension is sufficient to make the necessary contact. .It will thereore be noted that in the normal running of the mechanism, the rotary member causes the contact moving member to receive an oscillatory motion in twov directions, viirst, a

vertical movement, and thenan outward movement. rIhe downward and inward movement caused by the spring 52 compels the member 4:6to` close the contacts. When the time shaft turns a reverse direction, the contacts are not closed, because the cams y52 will simply throw the free end of member 46 outwardly without elevating said member into the path of cams 61.

fIt is of course to be understood that the 'cams 61 and 62 will be in number and arrangement in accordance with the number. of cylinders to be red, each cylinder being fired at every lrevolution `of the time shaft.

y Various slightkclfanges might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts describedfwithout departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself 'to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within 'the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what -I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l y

1'. In axdevice of the character described, the combination with electric contacts normally apart, of a rotary member', a pivotally mountedcontact moving' member, means on -said lrotary member constructed vto move the cont-act moving member in two directions, and a spring constructed to return said contact moving memberto normal position andy during such return movement close said contacts, substantially as described. 2. Inade 'ce of th'e character described,

the combination with electrical' contacts nor' mally apart', of. a rotaryjmember, a contact moving member, means ongsaidrotary member constructedtomoye saidjcontactmoving member iii-tw irections, and a spring constructed to move'said contact moving mem` ber in a third direction, and saidyparts so constructed as .to move l saidccontacts Vtogether (during said "last-mentioned move' ment, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed contact, and a movable contactnormallyt spaced from the fixed contact, of a rotary member, a contact movingmember, a cam block on said rotary -member constructed to move the" contact moving member in one direction, a second cam on saidrotary member constructed to move the contact moving member in a second direction when moved by the" first-mentioned cam, and a spring 'constructed to move y said contact moving member in a third direction, and move said contacts together during said last-mentioned movement, substantially as described.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with contacts normally apart, of a movable member to which one of said contacts is secured, a camtongue on said member, a rotary member, a contact moving member, cams on said rotary member constructed to move said contact moving member in two directions, and a springV constructed' to move said contact moving member in a third direction and during said last-mentioned movement engage the cam tongue and force the contacts momentarily together, substantially as described. v

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with contacts normallyapart and a cam face on one of said contacts, of a contact moving member, a rotary member, a series of cams on said rotary member constructed to normally move the contact moving member in one direction and when^turnedin a reverse direction move said Contact moving member in a different direction, a second series of cam blocks on the rotary member constructed to movethe conf tact moving member into position in line with the ,said camface, and a spring constructed to draw said contact moving member across said cam face during the return -inovement of said contact moving member and force the contacts momentarily together, substantially as described.

6. In' a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted spring held bar, a contact on said bar, and a cam face on said bar, of a rotary member having cams thereon in different planes, a contact moving member pivotally supported to oscillate in two directions, a -cam` face on said contact moving member in the path of movement of one of said cams onvthe rotary member, whereby said cam serves to oscillate said contact moving member in one direction into t-he path of movement of the other cam `and the latter moves said contact moving member in a second direction, and a' spring constructed to draw said contact moving mem,

ber to normal positiomand in such move- Ament engage the cam face on the bar and momentarily move the contacts together, substantially as described.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, the'combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted bar, and a movable conl mally holding said bar in ed to be engaged by one set of said camsl during the normal direction of movement of said rotary member to elevate the contact moving member into the path' of the other set of cams, said last-mentioned set of cams constructed to move said contact moving member outwardly and over the cam' face on the bar, and a spring constructed to move. said contact moving member across said cam face of the bar and back to normal position, substantially as described.

8. In a mechanismV of the character described, the combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted bar, and a movable contact on said' pivoted bar, of a spring norposition to maintain the contacts` apart, a cam face on said bar, a rotary member, two circular series of cams on' said rotary member in different planes, a cont-act moving member, a cam face on said contact moving member adapted to be engaged by one set of said cams during the normal direction of movement of said rotary member to elevate the contact moving member into the path of the other set of cams, said last-mentioned set of cams constructed to move said contact moving member outwardly and over the cam face on the bar, and a spring constructed to move said contact moving member across said cam face of the bar and back to normal position, said contact moving member having a cam face adapted to be engaged by the first-mentioned set of camsA to move the contact moving member outwardly without moving the contacts when said rotary member is turned in a reverse direction, substantially as de scribed. j

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with electric contactsnormally apart, of a rotary member, a contact moving member, means on said rotary member constructed to move the contact moving member, a spring constructed to return said Contact moving member to normal position and during such return movement close said contacts, a supporting plate to which said contacts and' contact moving member are connected, fa journal having rotary mounting in said plate and to vwhich said a casing sea central contact in said casing, a circular series of contacts around 'l said central contact, a head of'insulating material on said journal, and a metal contact on said head adapted to alternately con-l nect the central contact with the contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

position to mainlast-mentioned movement, a

10. In a device of the character described, the` combination with electrical contacts normally apart, of a rotary member, a contact moving member, means on said rotary member constructed. to move .said-contact moving member in two directions, a spring con-V structed to move said contact moving member in a third direction, constructed as to move said contacts together during said last-mentioned movement, a supporting plate to which said con.- tacts and contact moving member are connected, a journal having rotary mounting in said plate and to .which said rotary mem- 'ber is connected, a casing secured on said plate, a central contact in said casing, a circular series of cont-acts around said central contact, a head of insulating material on said journal, and a metal Contact on said head adapted to alternately connect the central contact with the contact of the circularseries, substantially as described. t

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed contact, and a movable Contact normally spaced from the fixed contact, of a'rotary member, a contact moving member, i member constructed to move the contact movand said parts so y a 'cam block on said rotary ing member in one direction, a second cam on saidrotary member constructed to move the contact moving member in a second direct-ion when moved by the first-mentioned cam, and a spring constructed to move said contact moving member in a third direction, and move said contacts together during said,

supporting plate to which said contacts and contact moving member are. having rotary mounting in said plate and to which said rotary member is connected, a casing secured on said plate, a central contact in said casing, a circular series of contacts around said central contact, a head ofinsulating material on said journal, and a metal contact on saidheadadapted to alternately connectthe. central contact with the Contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

12. In a mechanism of. the character described, the combination with contacts normally apart, of a movable member towhich one of said contacts is secured, acam tongue on said member, a rotary member, a contact moving member, cams on said rotary meinber constructed to move said Contact moving member in twodirections, and a spring constructed to move said contact moving member in a third direction and during said lastmentioned movement engage the cam tongueand force' the contacts momentarily together, a supporting plate to which said contactsv and contact moving member4 are connected, a journal having rotary mounting in'said plate and to which said rotary member is connected, a casing secured on connected, a journal said plate, a central contact in said casing, a

circular series of contacts around said central contact, a head .of vinsulating material on said journal, and a metal contact on said head adaptedto, alternately connect the central cont-act with the contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

13.' In a mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination with contacts normally apart and a cam face on one of said cont-acts, of a contact -movin'g member, a rotary member, a series of cams on said rotary member constructed to normally move the contact moving member -in one direction and' when turned in a reverse' direct-ion move said contact' moving member in Ca different direction, a second series of cam blocks on the rotary j member constructed tomove the contact moving member into position in line with the said cam face, a spring constructed to draw said contact moving member acrosssaid cam face during the return movement of said contact moving member and force the contacts momentarily together, a supporting plate to which lsaid contacts and contact moving member are connected,a journal having rotary mounting in said plate and to which ,said rotary member is connected, a casing secured on said plate, a central contact in said casing, a circular series of contacts varound said central contact, a head of insulating Vmaterial on said journal, and a metal contact on said head adapted to alternately connect the central cont-act with the contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

14. In a mechanism ot the character described, the combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted spring held bar, a contact on said bar, and a cam face on said bar, of a rotary member having cams thereon in different planes, a contact moving member pivotally supported to oscillate in two diL rections, a cam face on said contact moving member in the path otmovement of one of said cams on the rotary member, whereby said cam serves to oscillate said contact moving member in one direction into the path ot movement of the other cam and the latter moves said contact moving member in a second direction, a spring constructed to draw said contact moving member to normal position,.and in such movement engage the cam face on the bar and momentarily move the contacts together, a supporting plate to which said contacts 'and contact moving member are connected, a journal having rotary mounting in said plate and to which said rotary member is connected, a casing secured on said pIateLajcetral contact in said casing, a circular series of ,contacts around said central contact, a head of insulating-material on said journal, and a metal contact on said head adapted to alternately connect the central contact with the contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

15. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted bar, and a movable contact on said pivoted bar, of a spring normally holding said bar in position to maintain the contacts apart, a cam face on said bar, a rotary member, two circular series of dcams on said rotary member in different planes, a contact moving member, a cam face on said contact moving member adapted to be engaged by one set of said cams duringv the normal direction of movement of said rotary member to elevate the contact moving member into the path of the other set of cams, said last-mentioned set of cams constructed to move said contact moving member outwardly and over the cam face on thc bar, a spring constructed to move said contact moving member across said cam face of the bar and back to normal position, a supporting plate to which said contacts and contact moving member are connected, a journal having rot-ary mounting in said plate and to which said rotary member -is connected, a casing secured on said plate, a central contact insaid casing, a circular series of contacts around said central contact, a head of insulating materialen said journal, and a metal contact on said head adapted to alternately connect the central contact with the contact of the circular series, substantially as described.

16. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a stationary contact, a pivoted bar, and al movable contact on said pivoted bar, of a spring normally holding said bar in position to maintain the contacts apart, a cam face on said bar, a rotary member, two circular series of cams on said rotary member in diiferent planes, a contact moving member, a cam face on said contact moving member adapted to be engaged by one set of said cams during the normal direction of movement of ysaid rotary member to elevate the contact moving member into the path of the other set of cams, said last-mentioned set of cams constructed to move said contact moving member outwardly and over the cam face on the bar, a spring constructed to move said contact moving member across said cam face of the bar and back to normal posit-ion, said contact moving member having a cam ace adapted to be engaged by t e first-mentioned set of cams to move the contact moving member outwardly without moving the contacts when said rotary member is turned in a reverse direction, a supporting plate to which said contacts and contact moving member are connected, a journal having rotaryv mounting in said plate and to which said rotary member is connected, a casing 5 cnnect the central Contact With the Contact 'Withessem -said casing, a circular series of contacts In testimoy whereof I have signed my around saidvcentral Contact, a head of insuname to this specification in the presence 'of lating material on said journal, and a metal two subscribing witnesses. Contact on said head adapted to alternately LEWIST. RHOADES.

' of the circular series, substantially as de- R. H. KRENKEL, scribed. i CHAsvEPoTra 

